Page 47 - Basic English Usage

47 49

As is a conjunction. We use as before a clause, and before an
expression beginning with a preposition.

as + clause
as + preposition phrase

Nobody knows her as | do.
We often drink tea with the meal, as they do in China.
In 1939, as in 1914, everybody wanted war.
On Friday, as on Tuesday, the meeting will be at 8.30.
In informal English /ike is often used instead of as.
This is very common in American English.
Nobody loves you like | do.

For like = as if, see 49.3.
Foras ... as, see 46. For the same as, see 288.

Function
We use as, not /ike, to say what function a person or thing has — what
jobs people do, what things are used for, etc.
He worked as a waiter for two years. (NOT ... #ke-@-waiter-)
Please don't use your plate as an ashtray.

49 as if and as though

as iffthough + subject + present/past verb
as iffhough + subject + past verb with present meaning

As ifand as though mean the same.
We use them to say what a situation seems like.
it looks as if/though it's going to rain.
/ felt as if/Athough | was dying.

We can use a past tense with a present meaning after as if/though. This
means that the idea is ‘unreal’.
Compare:
He looks as if he’s rich. (Perhaps he is rich.)
She talks as if she was rich. (But she isn't.)
We can use were instead of was when we express ‘unreal’ ideas after
as if/fthough. This is common in a formal style.
She talks as if she were rich.

Like is often used instead of as i#/though, especially in American English.
This is very informal.
It looks like it’s going to rain.